Hi All, We are fairly new to sailing, and need to know how to rig our gennaker that came with the boat. Previous owners hadn't a clue...we also have a whisker pole...We have used it in light winds,downwind like a jibsail, but not for sure if we did it right...Minimal sailing support here in the south midwest US...ANY information is GREATLY appreciated! Please share what you know........ Fair winds, MLB
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Suggest Google Search
I'm not familiar with your particular boat but here's something for starters. You may need to adapt it to fit your situation. I liked it because there is a lot of detal that one doesn't normally get in a reply here. http://na.northsails.com/Cruising_Sails/SolutionsRiggingaGennaker.htm At the end they state there is a "gennaker handling video" which might be interesting to get a hold of. For a lot more generic gennaker reading material try entering "rig gennaker", or something like that, in Google and see what you come up with. Good luck in your new experience and when you get the bugs worked out I'm sure you'll be happy you tried. Oh, try to keep the sail out of the water otherwise it can act as a big sea anchor! To help, consider putting a zig-zag line on the lifelines, between the top line and the toe rail (if you have a perforated toe rail).
I'm not familiar with your particular boat but here's something for starters. You may need to adapt it to fit your situation. I liked it because there is a lot of detal that one doesn't normally get in a reply here. http://na.northsails.com/Cruising_Sails/SolutionsRiggingaGennaker.htm At the end they state there is a "gennaker handling video" which might be interesting to get a hold of. For a lot more generic gennaker reading material try entering "rig gennaker", or something like that, in Google and see what you come up with. Good luck in your new experience and when you get the bugs worked out I'm sure you'll be happy you tried. Oh, try to keep the sail out of the water otherwise it can act as a big sea anchor! To help, consider putting a zig-zag line on the lifelines, between the top line and the toe rail (if you have a perforated toe rail).
Here's how
All you're doing is substituting the jib for the gennaker. So roll up or drop the jib first. The gennaker has three points. The top is where you attach the halyard, or maybe you can use the jib halyard. The tack is the eyelet where you attach the line that keeps it close to the bow. It may be just that you attach it at the bow, with no line. Very simple. The clew is the eyelet where you attach the spin sheet for whichever side you're flying it. Recommend you buy a $100 chute to douse the spin, which avoids having to refold it precisely and makes it easier to deploy. Remember to keep the sheets (lines) outside the lifelines, to avoid fouling. Also see the Archives on this website for plenty of ideas and tips. Flying a gennaker/spinnaker is the most fun you can have with your clothes on.
All you're doing is substituting the jib for the gennaker. So roll up or drop the jib first. The gennaker has three points. The top is where you attach the halyard, or maybe you can use the jib halyard. The tack is the eyelet where you attach the line that keeps it close to the bow. It may be just that you attach it at the bow, with no line. Very simple. The clew is the eyelet where you attach the spin sheet for whichever side you're flying it. Recommend you buy a $100 chute to douse the spin, which avoids having to refold it precisely and makes it easier to deploy. Remember to keep the sheets (lines) outside the lifelines, to avoid fouling. Also see the Archives on this website for plenty of ideas and tips. Flying a gennaker/spinnaker is the most fun you can have with your clothes on.
Also look at Sailnet Articles
There are several in the archives dealing with gennaker and cruising spinnakers. I bought a new one this year and have read them all and found them very helpful. Search on "cruising spinnakers" and you should find them. There are always links at the end of each article that take you to other relevant articles.
There are several in the archives dealing with gennaker and cruising spinnakers. I bought a new one this year and have read them all and found them very helpful. Search on "cruising spinnakers" and you should find them. There are always links at the end of each article that take you to other relevant articles.
Is drifter another type of gennaker?
I have a "drifter" that came with my Islander Bahama 30. I have never even taken it out of the sail bag, although I think I should have - plenty of light air days on Texoma last month! Anyway, is this the same sail as a gennaker? thanks, Wulfe
I have a "drifter" that came with my Islander Bahama 30. I have never even taken it out of the sail bag, although I think I should have - plenty of light air days on Texoma last month! Anyway, is this the same sail as a gennaker? thanks, Wulfe
Don't think so
Wulfe, I recently went to a local sailmaker intent on ordering an assymetrical spinnaker, which I think is also known as a gennaker to some. He sold me on a light air drifter, which appears to be cut like a huge genoa. The advantages he gave were that it could be used conventially upwind in less than 10 knot winds, but could also be poled out with a whisker pole (wing and wing with the main) to use downwind at up to 18 knots winds. He also said that downwind, you should sail at about 160-170 degrees with the whisker pole out to the weather side. Hope it helps - I won't know for sure until spring.
Wulfe, I recently went to a local sailmaker intent on ordering an assymetrical spinnaker, which I think is also known as a gennaker to some. He sold me on a light air drifter, which appears to be cut like a huge genoa. The advantages he gave were that it could be used conventially upwind in less than 10 knot winds, but could also be poled out with a whisker pole (wing and wing with the main) to use downwind at up to 18 knots winds. He also said that downwind, you should sail at about 160-170 degrees with the whisker pole out to the weather side. Hope it helps - I won't know for sure until spring.
Genoa vs Gennaker
Various books on Sail Trim (e.g., from Sail Magazine) will provide theory & practical tips on flying a Gennaker (Asym. Spinnaker). Whisker poles are for use with conventional jibs/genoas. They are designed for a certain range of compressive loading, and generally are not recommended for spinnaker use. Spinnaker poles are different. Forespar (www.forespar.com) has some nice info about their use, sizing, & design. --Ron
Various books on Sail Trim (e.g., from Sail Magazine) will provide theory & practical tips on flying a Gennaker (Asym. Spinnaker). Whisker poles are for use with conventional jibs/genoas. They are designed for a certain range of compressive loading, and generally are not recommended for spinnaker use. Spinnaker poles are different. Forespar (www.forespar.com) has some nice info about their use, sizing, & design. --Ron
Confused
John Nantz should be sufficiently confused by these responses to consider taking up golf. I would suggest he find someone who sails a spin frequently and go out to hear the story of gennakers, drifters, spin, genoas. Seeing is believing.
John Nantz should be sufficiently confused by these responses to consider taking up golf. I would suggest he find someone who sails a spin frequently and go out to hear the story of gennakers, drifters, spin, genoas. Seeing is believing.
More Confused
I'm confused by your comment, Bill. I fly a 150 (genoa) and a chute (standard spinnaker) on my Hunter 35 regularly. What is it that I need to hear about flying a genoa and a spinnaker? Seeing is believing what? Don't understand what you're getting at?
I'm confused by your comment, Bill. I fly a 150 (genoa) and a chute (standard spinnaker) on my Hunter 35 regularly. What is it that I need to hear about flying a genoa and a spinnaker? Seeing is believing what? Don't understand what you're getting at?
check North site
If you go to www.northsails.com you will find some pretty good info on differences - they have some good Q&A stuff in their cruising section.
If you go to www.northsails.com you will find some pretty good info on differences - they have some good Q&A stuff in their cruising section.
Check out Doyle Sails
Doyle has a furling Gennaker that can be lowered (furled) and stowed in a bag. To use,you just attach furler unit forward of your forestay , hoist with halyard and unfurl just like a furling genoa! We are saving up for one now! Good Luck! Charles & Lynn sv "Artistry" www.ArtistryMarineArt.com
Doyle has a furling Gennaker that can be lowered (furled) and stowed in a bag. To use,you just attach furler unit forward of your forestay , hoist with halyard and unfurl just like a furling genoa! We are saving up for one now! Good Luck! Charles & Lynn sv "Artistry" www.ArtistryMarineArt.com
Thanks everyone, will let you know how it goes!
Seems there is always something to learn....Very different from a power boat...Viva la difference!
Seems there is always something to learn....Very different from a power boat...Viva la difference!
Difference between gennaker and genoa?
I feel so dumb...Here is this beautiful sail, and I don't know what to do with it....Maybe the previous owners only THOUGHT it was a gennaker...no way to tell for sure?? Our "gennaker" is of lightweight fabric like a spinnaker, but looks like all the seams go to the tack point. Doesn't quite look like the gennakers on NorthSails(Cruisingdirect). It looks like a big rainbow that starts around the tack. Perhaps this is a "drifter"?? after all? HMMM . I wish I had a pic to post...maybe next week. Thanks again All for your input...Will definitely check back in with a photo...
...M
I feel so dumb...Here is this beautiful sail, and I don't know what to do with it....Maybe the previous owners only THOUGHT it was a gennaker...no way to tell for sure?? Our "gennaker" is of lightweight fabric like a spinnaker, but looks like all the seams go to the tack point. Doesn't quite look like the gennakers on NorthSails(Cruisingdirect). It looks like a big rainbow that starts around the tack. Perhaps this is a "drifter"?? after all? HMMM . I wish I had a pic to post...maybe next week. Thanks again All for your input...Will definitely check back in with a photo...
...M
Ask the Sailmaker
Mary, got some ideas for you. First, (Plan A) look at the sail bag for the name of the sailmaker. Standardly a loft will have the sailmaker, year, and sail type on the bag (at least North and Lidgard/Seattle does). Another place to look is on the sail, maybe near the tack if it's a jib and maybe in the lower middle of the sail if it's a spinnaker. Go on-line and find the sailmaker and maybe the nearest loft and start communicating to them what you have. The loft keeps the records, hopefully on computer, and hopefully they can search by owners name (previous owner) or boat name. Once they find the record, which should take only a few minutes if it's on a computer, they can tell you everything about the sail. Plan B, if you reach a dead-end on the above, would be to talk to any loft you can find, if they're cooperative, and see if they can help you figure out what kind of sail it is. Depending on who you talk to, time of day, if they're "booked" or not, you can get some free help. At this point they may ask for length measurements of the three sides of the sail so be prepared to take out the tape measure. You said it looks like a "rainbow"; if the seams are curved instead of triangles or straight lines it sounds like a UK "tape drive" sail. In order to learn how to fly the sail one needs to know what it is so it's smart that you're digging into finding out what you have. Good luck in your research.
Mary, got some ideas for you. First, (Plan A) look at the sail bag for the name of the sailmaker. Standardly a loft will have the sailmaker, year, and sail type on the bag (at least North and Lidgard/Seattle does). Another place to look is on the sail, maybe near the tack if it's a jib and maybe in the lower middle of the sail if it's a spinnaker. Go on-line and find the sailmaker and maybe the nearest loft and start communicating to them what you have. The loft keeps the records, hopefully on computer, and hopefully they can search by owners name (previous owner) or boat name. Once they find the record, which should take only a few minutes if it's on a computer, they can tell you everything about the sail. Plan B, if you reach a dead-end on the above, would be to talk to any loft you can find, if they're cooperative, and see if they can help you figure out what kind of sail it is. Depending on who you talk to, time of day, if they're "booked" or not, you can get some free help. At this point they may ask for length measurements of the three sides of the sail so be prepared to take out the tape measure. You said it looks like a "rainbow"; if the seams are curved instead of triangles or straight lines it sounds like a UK "tape drive" sail. In order to learn how to fly the sail one needs to know what it is so it's smart that you're digging into finding out what you have. Good luck in your research.
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